A MAJOR airline is set to bump up its flight prices by up to £60 in a bid to cover new EU regulations. British holidaymakers will also be affected as UK routes won't be an exception. German carrier Lufthansa will introduce an environmental charge of up to £60 to its fares, Reuters reported.
Flight prices will include additional fees of £1 to £60, depending on a ticket type. Holidaymakers will have to splurge extra when flying from EU countries as well as Britain, Norway and Switzerland. The increase will be effective as early as Wednesday but will cover flights starting from January 1, 2025 onwards.
EU regulations force airlines to use more sustainable jet fuel in a bid to reduce emissions, and subsequently, drive up costs. The German airline said: "The surcharge is intended to cover part of the steadily rising additional costs due to regulatory environmental requirements." It comes as flight experts have warned travellers that plane tickets will likely skyrocket this summer.
A group of aviation industry leaders have revealed that worldwide inflation and jet fuel costs are significant factors in the price hike. The global push for decarbonisation has led to airlines competing for the little amount of sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, available on the market. The hangover from the pandemic is another factor for the expected steep increase in ticket prices, experts claimed.
Airlines have continued to operate older planes, which burn more fuel, for longer periods In additio.
